By Curtis Killman
Tulsa World, Okla.
OKEMAH, Okla. — Agents from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office are providing police services in Okemah after five officers, including the police chief, were fired or resigned.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office announced the takeover in a press release issued just before 1 p.m. Monday.
“I am not afraid to make such a move if it means law and order is maintained in Okemah,” Drummond said in the release. “My office will maintain a strong law enforcement presence in Okemah for as long as necessary.”
The Attorney General’s Office said it would work closely with city officials to transition back to local control. The office declined to comment further, including on how many agents will be sent to Okemah and why the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office didn’t assume interim control.
Patrick Williams , the now former chief of the Okemah Police Department , said in an interview with the Tulsa World that he was fired along with two other officers during a 10 a.m. Monday meeting with city officials. He said two other officers resigned.
Williams said city officials fired one officer for “Facebook posts,” while his wife, a school resource officer, was fired during her 90-day probationary period. He said city officials told him he was being fired for “poor management” and for not returning work-related phone calls to his personal phone that he received after regular business hours.
Four officers remain on the police force, Williams said.
Williams suggested that retaliation was a motivating factor behind the firings.
Trey Jordan , one of the officers, took to social media Monday regarding his termination.
“For those of you who do not know yet, I was just terminated for doing what I believe was right,” Jordan said. “That’s all I can say right now.”
Williams said he was on vacation when Jordan was suspended following an altercation with an Okemah code enforcement officer.
Williams said Jordan “trespassed” the Okemah code enforcement officer from a property at the property owner’s request. The word “trespassed” is shorthand for being warned by police that the property owner has requested that the person be banned from the property and for them to be arrested or cited if they return.
The exchange, caught on the officer’s body camera, apparently was broadcast on television news, Williams said.
The former chief claimed that the code enforcement officer is the sister of the city manager and is not “certified” to enforce city codes.
Williams said the firings also were retaliation for officers’ recently forming a local Fraternal Order of Police chapter to collectively bargain with the city on wage and working matters.
“That’s when the s- — hit the fan,” Williams said.
Asked what his plans were, Williams replied, “To look for a job.”
Okemah officials could not be reached for comment.
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